Silicon Valley Interreligious Council (SiVIC) builds interreligious harmony and understanding to promote a just and compassionate society in Silicon Valley.
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On the shootings in “Mother Emanuel” Church
June 18, 2015
Our hearts go out to the people of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and to the families and friends of the nine victims who were killed as they studied the Bible and prayed together. No religious community – no community—should ever have to bear the pain of having their sacred space invaded by hatred and violence. Our sacred places—be they church, temple, Gurdwara, synagogue, meditation hall or mosque—should be places of sanctuary and peace.
We grieve again for victims of the racism and prejudice that continue to distort our nation. SiVIC reaffirms its commitment to building a more just and compassionate society, and pledges to work together with the local African American community and religious communities to stand against violence and hatred and to celebrate the richness and strength that diversity brings to all of us in Silicon Valley.
SiVIC Board members attend Zen festival
Several members of the SiVIC Board were invited to attend the annual “Bathing the Buddha” ceremony at the Chung Tai Zen Center in Sunnyvale on Sunday, May 24. Abbot JianYing not only welcomed them to the celebration, but invited them and others to bring greetings from their home communities. He emphasized the need to make connections among our different traditions.
Interfaith leaders at Bathing the Buddha Ceremony at Zen Center 2015
We’re going to the Parliament!
We have just received word that our proposal for a panel discussion at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Salt Lake City in October has been accepted! Our presentation, “From Partner City to Interreligious Council: Promoting a Just and Compassionate Society” will cover what we have learned over the past several years as SiVIC was founded and as we have grown and developed our work to make a more just and compassionate society. The panelists will include Rev. D. Andrew Kille, Girish Shah, Joy-Ellen Lipsky, Diane Fisher, and Rowan Fairgrove. read more…